Rating 6/10
This continuation takes place three years after the island girl’s triumphant return to Motunui in the South Pacific. Moana (Auliʻi Cravalho), now 19, must embark on a rather perfunctory voyage to reunite the ocean’s scattered tribes and lift a curse inflicted by the vengeful god Nalo. Despite her family’s fears, Moana goes on a daring expedition with her quirky animal sidekicks and a new crew of misfit islanders. Along the way, she faces mythical creatures and sinister storms. The demigod ally Maui (Dwayne Johnson) returns to help her attempt to unite the tribes once more and restore balance to the seas. While the premise exhibits a few flickers of inspiration, this continuation fails to navigate the same thrilling waters as its forebear.
Moana 2 was initially planned as a Disney+ series and underwent some last-ditch efforts to be retooled as a feature. The final product feels like that last-minute decision was motivated more by financial gain than narrative necessity. This is a sequence of random developments linked together to serve a generic account. The proper story takes a while, as a third of the picture is merely exposition before the journey. The shapeshifting Maui is the MVP of this production. His chemistry with Moana was the heart of the original, but he is conspicuously absent for roughly the first half. As a result, Moana’s adventure lacks the soul that made her debut so unforgettable.
Moana 2 is a pale imitation of its predecessor. Furthermore, Wicked, widely regarded as one of the best musicals of the past thirty years, is currently playing in theaters. Nevertheless, this lackluster offering suffers on its own merits. Lin-Manuel Miranda co-wrote the music for the 2016 movie and contributed its songs. Sadly, he did not return for the follow-up. Composers Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foa’i, who worked on the first installment, are joined by the songwriting team of Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear (The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical). While the tunes retain the Polynesian-inspired elements, they lack Miranda’s creativity and memorable hooks. The infectious earworm of “How Far I’ll Go” or the humor of “You’re Welcome” are sorely missing. A playful Maui number, “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” is a just pastiche of Miranda’s style.
I don’t want to seem like a total spoilsport. The animation is pretty. The stunning visuals capture the ocean’s vibrant energy and Polynesian culture with a simulated authenticity. The sequel caters to its youngest viewers. The tiny tykes in my theater were dancing. If you have children under 10, take them. Young audiences will delight in the antics of the characters, particularly the adorable coconut-headed Kakamora pirates, who get their own emotional arc. However, for adult fans hoping for a bold progression of Moana’s legacy, the formulaic storytelling and lack of innovation will set them adrift.
11=28-24
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